RYMAN DIV ONE NORTH

Brentwood Town 1 Northwood 1

NORTHWOOD conceded a last-gasp penalty as they were denied victory at third-placed Brentwood on Saturday.

The visitors began in a positive fashion with Gary Senior almost latching onto Ryan Tackley's through ball but Brentwood goalkeeper Nicky Mitchell made a hurried clearance.

John Christian tested Mitchell with a low drive, which skidded off the wet surface but the Brentwood custodian managed to fumble the ball away for a corner.

Northwood were asking all the questions in the opening minutes, and Tackley was the next to try his luck but his long-range shot was wide of the target.

Brentwood gradually began to settle and Sherwin Stanley sent in a shot that was comfortably gathered by keeper Mitch Swain, before Lee Perry's dipping shot flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Woods continued to work some useful positions and Senior might have chosen to shoot on goal, but opted to square the ball for Eugene Ofori and the opportunity had gone.

Ofori was involved once more as his instinctive shot from the edge of the box flew the wrong side of the upright.

There were further chances for both sides in an entertaining opening half, Sam Higgins dragging his shot wide after breaking clear of the Northwood defence, while the lively Senior sent his first-time shot wide of the far post.

Christian had a great chance to open the scoring, but he appeared to have too much time and space as he gently volleyed Rob Ursell'scorner into Mitchell's arms.

Brentwood utilised all their substitutes as they looked to turn the match in their favour, and replacement Billy Crowther went close with a header before Perry shot wide after a corner was only half cleared by the Woods' defence.

Dave Anderson made a couple of changes, and it paid dividends as both were involved in Northwood taking the lead on 77 minutes.

After Steve King was judged to have brought down Hugo Figueiredo, Gary Burrell stepped up to despatch the resultant penalty kick.

Northwood had chances to make the game safe, but Ofori was denied by the legs of Mitchell before the Woods' striker was presented with another golden opportunity but skied his close-range shot over the crossbar.

They were made to pay as the hosts were awarded a 90th-minute penalty after the ball had already ended up in the Northwood net, Danny Glozier stepping up to give Swain no chance with a coolly taken spot-kick to salvage a share of the spoils.